Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-18
Women in Guatemala.


On the eastern frontier of Guatemala.
in British Honduras, there is stretch of
beautiful country very rarely visited. IL
is 100 !eet above the level OF the sea,
there is lovely park-like scenery, buo-
bling springs and grassy bills, where
herds Of cattle are grazing All day long.
Years ago that WAS the site of great
empire; here and there foundations OF
massive Stone walls rise out of the
ground, neElentoeS OF bygone splendor,
while every surrounding nil has its le-
gend.
The present inhabitants, descendants
OF the great Maya nation, lead lite OF
pastoral simplicity, tending their flocks
and only culuyattpE the ground enough
to supply their actual wants, lntoNicat-
ing liquor ls not allowed among them,
while wee and crime are almost unknown.
The largest village, Sauto Torlbio, has
about | 800 inhe bttauts, and is called the
| capital. The government of Guatemala
seldom interferes with these villages, the
district being regarded as unimportanI
Indian territory, but each village annu.
ally elects it's own Alcaide.
Election day is celebrated with much
rejoicing, just as it used to be before Eu-
ropeans came to America. The Spanish
chroniclers tell lis thai 1t was then GUS
t0mary for these going out of office to
give q DduQueb W JuGli ouSOcSoblo anu at
The present time tue authorities of those
villages always spread banquet election
day. The entire repast is placed on the
table at once, except the tortlpas. Fresh
supplies of these are brought steaming
hot to the table every lew minutes.
Only men take part in this feast OF the
politicians, and boys wait on them. In
the evening the hall is cleared for
dancing; then the women and girls APP
= IL ~
cotton garments trimmed with colored
embroidery, and have bright-colored
scarfs around their shoulders. Bulk
seems to be their idea Of elegance, tor
each has several very full skirts, all stiffly
starched. Their gold ornaments, ear
rings, necklaces, and tnger-rinGs are
very UNDERESTIMATE from ore found in
their native soil. Some of the girls are
beautiful, though all are short in stature
like the men.
The musical instrument most used by
these people is the marimba, played after
the manner of dulcimer, but made OF
wood and pieces OF bide. The tones OF
the marimba are plaintlve, sweet, and
meiodious. 1t can oe heard at a long
distance in the still night air.
The women sit round the room, but the
men stand In groups. When the dancing
is to commence one of them only advances
to the middle Of the floor and mods at the
woman be desires tor a partner. She
leaves her seat and goes to face him,
standing few feet off. They perform a
jig, hardly moving their bodies, though
the steps are varied and rapid; OCCASION
ally they exchange places, but never
clasp hands. Without even looking at
her partner the woman returns to her seat
when the fancy takes her, and he, with
out changing his position, invites some
one else by nod, for he is expected to re-
main on foot till the music ceBses. Then
another takes his place; so dancing is
kept up until midnight, all conducting
themselves with the greatest decorum,
but merry peals of laughter are heard
now and again, aud.every one seems per-
fectly happy, chatting gayly as they wend
their way hOmeward in the soft moon
light